Slow Saturday mornings, Sunday catch-ups and the brunch that turns into the whole afternoon — here’s what a weekend at Zest actually looks like, and how to get the most out of it.
Weekdays at Zest are a mix of office regulars, early coffees and visitors grabbing breakfast before a day of sightseeing. Weekends are different. From the moment the doors open at 9am on a Saturday, the tables fill with friends who haven’t seen each other all week, couples on a weekend away, families who’ve come into town for the morning, and groups making a proper occasion of it.
It’s busier, it’s louder in the best way, and it moves at a slower pace. Nobody is rushing off to a meeting. Plates of Benedicts and pancake stacks come out of the kitchen, a round of Bellinis becomes two rounds, and a table booked for an hour quite often stays for the afternoon. That’s the whole point of weekend brunch.
If you’re weighing up where to go for brunch in York this weekend, this page is here to help you decide — what’s on the menu, when to come, whether you need to book, and what other people have said after a Saturday or Sunday with us.
Both days start at 9am, but they finish differently, and that’s worth knowing before you plan.
Saturday is our longest weekend day — open 9am until 6pm. It’s the one to pick if you want brunch to roll into shopping on Stonegate, a wander through the Shambles Market, or a late lunch with a cocktail on the rooftop. Late morning into early afternoon is the busiest stretch of the whole week.
Sunday runs 9am until 4pm. It tends to be a little gentler first thing, which makes an early Sunday table one of the best-kept secrets for a quiet brunch in the city centre. By late morning the Sunday crowd arrives — families, friends recovering from Saturday night, and visitors fitting in one last good meal before the train home.
Whichever day you choose, brunch is served right from opening. There’s no brunch “window” to catch and no switch-over to a lunch menu at noon.
The same menu runs seven days a week, but some dishes seem made for a lazy weekend. These are the plates that come out of the kitchen most on a Saturday and Sunday:
Prefer a proper fry-up? The Full English (£12.95) and the Clifford’s Tower (£10.95) are on all weekend too. Every egg we cook is free-range, the sourdough is fresh, and vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options run right across the menu — so a mixed group can all order what they actually want. Have a look at the full menu before you come.
Here’s the bit that surprises most first-time visitors: our 2-4-1 offer doesn’t stop at the weekend. Order any two of the same cocktail and the second is on us — all day Saturday, all day Sunday, from the moment we open.
For brunch, that usually means fizz:
Later in the day, plenty of weekend tables move on to an Espresso Martini or our signature Whip-Ma Whop-Ma. And if cocktails aren’t your thing, there’s freshly ground Italian coffee, made by baristas who take it seriously, plus smoothies and soft drinks.
We don’t run a bottomless brunch package. Instead, 2-4-1 applies to every cocktail, every day, with no time limit and no minimum spend.
★★★★★
“Had two dining experiences over a weekend visiting York. The food was really fresh and well presented.”
Leah, Google review
Zest has two spaces, and the weekend is when both earn their keep. On a bright morning the rooftop terrace is hard to beat — a Saturday brunch above the rooftops of York with a Bellini in hand. As the weather cools into autumn and winter, the indoor café bar on Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate comes into its own — warm, relaxed and ideal for sitting a little longer than you meant to.
If you have a preference, mention it when you book. We’ll do our best, although rooftop tables do depend on the weather on the day.
Weekends are when the bigger tables come in — birthdays, reunions, friends visiting York for the weekend, and groups meeting in town before a day out. Larger groups are always welcome for a normal table booking. Just give us as much notice as you can so we can set the table up and make sure there’s room for everyone.
A couple of practical tips for groups:
Planning something in the evening instead? Private event bookings are available — get in touch and we’ll talk you through the options.
One of the nicest things about a weekend brunch at Zest is where it leaves you afterwards. We’re tucked away on Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate, right next to St Crux Church, at the heart of the old city. Once you’ve eaten, you can easily spend the rest of the day on foot:
Plenty of people do it the other way round too, with a morning of sightseeing and a late brunch to finish. Because the kitchen doesn’t switch menus, a Benedict at 1pm is exactly the same as one at 9am.
Walk-ins are always welcome, and if there’s a table free, it’s yours. On a Saturday or Sunday, though, we’d recommend booking — especially:
You can book a table online or call us on 01904 651868 and the team will sort it for you.
Brunch is served from 9am on both Saturday and Sunday. We’re open until 6pm on Saturday and 4pm on Sunday, and the full brunch menu is available from opening until the kitchen closes at 4pm — there’s no set brunch slot.
Yes — larger groups are very welcome for a normal table booking. Book ahead for Saturdays and Sundays and let us know about any dietary requirements so we can plan the table.
We don’t run a bottomless package. Instead, every cocktail is 2-4-1 all day on any two of the same drink, weekends included — Bellinis, Mimosas and Spritz included.
Our 2-4-1 cocktails run every day, weekends included. The discounts on our offers page — such as the student, NHS and Blue Light discounts — apply Monday to Friday only.
Yes. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options run across the whole menu every day, and every egg we cook is free-range.
Zest, 5 Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate, York YO1 8BL — next to St Crux Church in the city centre.
Saturday 9am–6pm · Sunday 9am–4pm · Monday to Friday 9am–6pm
Call 01904 651868 or book online. Want to see what other people make of us first? Read our guide to the best brunch in York, or see what’s on at our cocktail bar.
